John Kline: “I rise in support of workplace safety, but in opposition to H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire…”

“I rise in support of workplace safety, but in opposition to H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act. We all share, I believe, the common goal of working to protect employees from hazards in the workplace. The accident at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Georgia is a tragedy. It must be fully investigated. The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has undertaken the investigation that, by law, must be completed within 6 months. The results of this investigation will help identify the cause of the Imperial Sugar accident. I appreciate the concern about workers' safety, but as lawmakers, we have the responsibility to debate and enact laws that are reasonable. The bill before us today is an impulsive attempt to rush into action before OSHA can complete the investigation. Under this bill, OSHA will be required to adopt an interim rule within 90 days of enactment and a final rule within 18 months. This accelerated time frame is not only unrealistic, but would also deny stakeholder input ranging from industry, to academia, to organized labor, and other groups who could provide important and insightful contributions. By undermining the process, this legislation could have negative consequences and actually undercut workers' safety.”